Autism campaigners celebrate victory in battle for future of day care centres

Campaigner: Mary Langan, with son James, who has autism

Angry parents of autism sufferers today claimed a victory after forcing a council to guarantee the future of day centre services in the borough.

Campaigners threatened legal action after Haringey said the Roundway Day Centre in Tottenham was earmarked for closure.

But they have now been given assurances by the council, including the guarantee the centre would not shut unless alternative provision was made available.

Mary Langan of campaign group Save Autism Services Haringey (SASH) welcomed the council's response, saying: "This outcome is a tribute to a long arduous campaign, supported by families and carers, the National Autistic Society and other local campaigns.

"It is a pity that it took the threat of legal action to make Haringey face up to its social and moral responsibilities to vulnerable adults in the community."

One of the parents who brought the action, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Standard the assurances had provided peace of mind.

The 65-year-old, who is mother to a 37-year-old son with severe autism, said: "We were worried because he needs to be occupied with activities all the time or he gets into obsessive behaviours, starts self-harming.

"We didn't have much information about what was going to happen, what they were going to do."

Alice Cullingworth, specialist solicitor at Irwin Mitchell, who led the challenge added: “We are pleased that we achieved 15 key reassurances given by the Council about the continued day services for vulnerable adults with autism in Haringey without the need for court proceedings.

"We now have reassurances by the council that the remodelled day services for disabled adults in the local area will include an autism specialist service, that will be safe and fit for purpose, and there will be no gap in provision."

However, a spokesman for Haringey Council said it had already been made clear that no services would close until alternative provision had been identified.

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